NEWS & STORIES
D. Brent Miller recognized with Exceptional Leadership Award
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) takes great pleasure in presenting the Phil Johnson Exceptional Leadership Award to D. Brent Miller for his dedicated and inspiring service to our organization from 2012 to 2021. During this period, his selfless efforts and extreme generosity were directly responsible for the growth and continuous improvement to the PHWFF Cincinnati Program while serving as its Program Lead. Brent also served as Regional Coordinator for the PHWFF Kentucky-Ohio Region and Deputy Regional Coordinator for the PHWFF Midwest Region.
In 2012, Brent began volunteering with the PHWFF Cincinnati Program teaching the various program activities to its participants. After serving in this capacity for three years, Brent volunteered to become the Program lead. During this period, Brent steadily grew the program – increasing its volunteers and participants as well as building a strong partnership with the Buckeye United Fly Fishers. In 2017, Brent also began serving as the Regional Coordinator for the PHWFF Kentucky-Ohio Region where he assisted in developing and implementing the PHWFF National Training Program. As several regions consolidated in 2018, Brent began serving as the Deputy Regional Coordinator for the newly formed PHWFF Midwest Region – all the while continuing to successfully lead the PHWFF Cincinnati Program.
Brent’s untiring dedication to our participants and his unimpeachable character earned him the highest respect and admiration from participants and volunteers throughout the PHWFF Midwest Region. In addition to spending countless hours of his personal time organizing meetings, educational activities, planning outings, and participating in training events, he also attended to the Program’s and the Region’s administrative and management duties with the greatest of professionalism and attention to detail. His commitment to our Cause inspired all volunteers and participants involved in the program to become a stronger team and to build better friendships. Thanks to Brent’s genuine concern for others, we hear “…this program saved my life…” often. We are eternally grateful that his tireless efforts created a community where our participants can heal.
As a Vietnam Veteran, Brent instinctively knew the importance of mentoring, friendship, camaraderie, and their role in forming a pathway towards post-traumatic growth for our participants. All who know Brent will attest to the positive impact the program has made on their lives and the role model of selfless leadership and devotion that he provided to them. According to one Midwest Region Volunteer:
“As a Leader, Brent was encouraging, kind and non-judgmental. He always made time for conversations and offered guidance with transparency and honesty. His balanced approach to life was and continues to be inspirational.”
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is proud to bestow upon D. Brent Miller the Phil Johnson Exceptional Leadership Award for his tireless and extraordinary service to our organization and to those wounded, ill, and injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and disabled Veterans whom this organization serves.
